88th out of 92 books
—
57 voters
Man Seeks God: My Flirtations with the Divine
by
Eric Weiner
When a health scare puts him in the hospital, Eric Weiner-an agnostic by default-finds himself tangling with an unexpected question, posed to him by a well-meaning nurse. "Have you found your God yet?" The thought of it nags him, and prods him-and ultimately launches him on a far-flung journey to do just that.
Weiner, a longtime "spiritual voyeur" and inveterate traveler, r...more
Weiner, a longtime "spiritual voyeur" and inveterate traveler, r...more
Hardcover, 368 pages
Published
December 5th 2011
by Twelve
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As a person who has unabashedly turned away from the “given” religion of my childhood, I am interminably curious about those who not only presume to dedicate their lives to one pervasive thought process, but more specifically those who presume that theirs is the one true answer to the BIG questions and that the rituals of others should be considered silly, if not insane. Why is it completely reasonable to always pray in one direction, while eating a baked good covered in wine as your savior is m...more
I'm pretty conflicted about this book... On one hand, I think that Weiner's authorial voice is both compelling and humourous, as I discovered reading The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World; on the other, I found much of his approach to the material (as well as many of his underlying assumptions) to be simplistic at best and factually incorrect at worst. In his attempts to find "God" through his travels, he somehow manages to uncritically parrot many of wr...more
Weiner starts out on his quest for the divine after a nurse asks him during a hospital stint "Have you found your god yet?" He then flirts with eight different religions: some mainstream (Catholicism) and others not (Witchcraft and Raelism) in an attempt to fill what Pascal calls his "god-shaped hole" in the human soul.
I didn't think this one was quite as good as Weiner's Geography of Bliss, but I really liked the writing and the honesty and doubt he writes about in each of his explorations wit...more
I didn't think this one was quite as good as Weiner's Geography of Bliss, but I really liked the writing and the honesty and doubt he writes about in each of his explorations wit...more
In this book, Eric sets off around the world to find his monotheistic God. He looks for (H)im in most of the major places where (H)e would be suspected to be hanging out: in Buddhism and Taoism (sort of), Catholicism, Islam, Judaism....but he also searches in some unorthodox areas as well. (Wicca and Raelism.)
Eric's search is deeply personal. He reveals himself to be confused, wanting something genuine, unable to commit to anything longterm, and very attached to the pleasures of food and wine.
Hi...more
Eric's search is deeply personal. He reveals himself to be confused, wanting something genuine, unable to commit to anything longterm, and very attached to the pleasures of food and wine.
Hi...more
The author tries several different religions on for size in this book, including Buddhism, Sufi Islam, Franciscan Catholicism, Kabbalah, and Taoism. He makes a valiant effort in every case to meet and befriend followers of the faith, quizzing them on their belief system and lifestyle and attempting to adapt it himself.
Which is a good enough premise, but I don't think the book accomplished much beyond some religious education. Near the beginning of the book, Weiner mentions how he dislikes the id...more
Which is a good enough premise, but I don't think the book accomplished much beyond some religious education. Near the beginning of the book, Weiner mentions how he dislikes the id...more
Once again, NPR journalist Eric Weiner, flits around the globe attempting to find the answer to an unanswerable question. In his previous bestseller book The Geography of Bliss, Eric traveled the globe to find where in the world people were the happiest. Here, In Man Seeks God, Eric put himself up against the big one, Religion.
While laying in a hospital bed from a minor malady, Eric was approached by a mysterious nurse who whispered in his ear, "Have you found your God yet"? Immediately alarmed,...more
While laying in a hospital bed from a minor malady, Eric was approached by a mysterious nurse who whispered in his ear, "Have you found your God yet"? Immediately alarmed,...more
I reviewed this book for ReadersFavorite.com
Man Seeks God: My Flirtations with the Divine by Eric Weiner relays the true adventures of a well-read, well –traveled foreign journalist on a personal mission to find his God. Weiner mixes wit with wisdom and the sacred with the profane on an expedition through Sufism, Buddhism, Catholicism, Raёlism, Taoism, Neo-paganism, Shamanism, and the Kabbalah that is all about the journey rather than the destination. Along the way Weiner whirls like a dervish w...more
Man Seeks God: My Flirtations with the Divine by Eric Weiner relays the true adventures of a well-read, well –traveled foreign journalist on a personal mission to find his God. Weiner mixes wit with wisdom and the sacred with the profane on an expedition through Sufism, Buddhism, Catholicism, Raёlism, Taoism, Neo-paganism, Shamanism, and the Kabbalah that is all about the journey rather than the destination. Along the way Weiner whirls like a dervish w...more
This should have been an interesting book. I read the author's first book: "The Geography of Bliss" which was delightful and informative. In it, he recounts his research into the countries which are deemed by social scientists to be the happiest places on earth. It was a fascinating look at which cultures promote happiness and it was funny, witty, intelligent and memorable. This book doesn't even come a close second.
I am always interested in spiritual quests and understanding the different (esp...more
I am always interested in spiritual quests and understanding the different (esp...more
I would give this 3 1/2 stars. I'm a sucker for memoirs about a people's experiences with religion. Man Seeks God started out well with Weiner experiencing a health crisis, resulting in him sensing poverty in his spirit. So off he goes in search of something to fill his sense of emptiness and relieve his depression. I appreciated Weiner's humor and honesty as he described his thoughts and experiences during his stints dabbling in Sufism, Buddhism, and hanging out with Franciscans, but he lost me...more
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The same author who wrote the Geography of Bliss attempts to write a book in search of God. He should have stuck to travel writing, because that's essentially what this is, and his attempts to "find his God" comes across more as judgmental jokes about weird personalities he encounters. He looks at everything through a skeptical, humorous, almost absurdly "what you see is what you get" mentality, and through each chapter on a different religion/spirituality, he attempts to practice what he's intr...more
I was disappointed in this book. Eric Weiner's search for God starts as he is waiting to see a doctor while doubled over with stomach pains. A nurse noticing his pain and fear says to him "What's wrong haven't you found your God?" His pain turns out to be bad gas, but causes him to realize he feels that something is lacking in his life.
So he picks out several religions and gives each a week or so trial. He includes Buddism, Taoism, Catholicism, Judism (especially the Kahabbala-spelled wrong of...more
So he picks out several religions and gives each a week or so trial. He includes Buddism, Taoism, Catholicism, Judism (especially the Kahabbala-spelled wrong of...more
Eric Weiner always makes me want to do things after reading his books. The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World kickstarted my Iceland obsession, and this book made me want to read more about religion in a broader sense. It may finally be time to wade through Joseph Campbell and The Power of Myth.
In Man Seeks God, Weiner explores eight religions through attempts to experience them, not just interviewing people but putting himself through retreats, services...more
In Man Seeks God, Weiner explores eight religions through attempts to experience them, not just interviewing people but putting himself through retreats, services...more
Man Seeks God is a thoroughly entertaining, encouraging romp for spiritual seekers. Eric Weiner takes us on a honest and open quest to find God in a variety of places.
First Sufism in Turkey with Muslim Dervishes. Next onto Nepal for Tibetan Buddhism and then Franciscan monks in the Bronx. In Las Vegas he looks at one unheard of to me, Raelism with beliefs about Extraterrestrial creationism and hedonistic practices followed by an investigation of the Tao, Wiccans and Shamans. His final destinati...more
First Sufism in Turkey with Muslim Dervishes. Next onto Nepal for Tibetan Buddhism and then Franciscan monks in the Bronx. In Las Vegas he looks at one unheard of to me, Raelism with beliefs about Extraterrestrial creationism and hedonistic practices followed by an investigation of the Tao, Wiccans and Shamans. His final destinati...more
Author Eric Weiner lands in the Emergency Room with severe stomach pain. While waiting for his diagnosis, a nurse cryptically asks, “Have you found your God yet?” Thinking the worst, then getting a reprieve, he decides that this is a message he needs to heed. So begins his journey to find his god and work through his persistent depression. Weiner’s writing is breezy and humorous, while he treats the traditions that he explores and the gurus he meets with respect and, at times,reverence. He gives...more
I loved this author’s THE GEOGRAPHY OF BLISS and my son recommended and gave me a copy of this latest book. Once again, Weiner is hilariously honest about his neuroses , his search for faith, and his adventures in God shopping. Most readers will learn at least one or two new things about the various religions Weiner tries out. Since I had never heard of the Raelians, whose beliefs are based on UFOs, I was happy the author included one kind of Christian (Franciscans), one aspect of Judaism (Kabba...more
Witty, humorous and at times annoying and a little bit of a drag. Weiner has a near death experience which is just gas-that figures, and embarks on a spiritual quest. I can sympathize as my chest pains were all muscular, so I know what of he speaks but it's still rather comical. Weiner has to be the most neurotic person I've ever met-bibliographically speaking. We hear all about his OCD and impatience and depression and suicide thoughts. Sounds like a confession. We encounter a strange cult foun...more
What Eric Weiner thought was a near-death experience spawns an existential crisis that compels him to find God, often in exotic parts of the world. Before reading the book, I heard the author interviewed on a podcast and was instantly attracted to his neurotic, yet endearing and sincere, voice. He seemed to promise a more honest commentary on his encounter with a diverse range of religious practice and doctrine, as opposed to the popular and patronizing "we all ultimately believe the same beauti...more
Meh.
I kept wishing this had been written by Bill Bryson. Or someone who wasn't depressed. I mean, I feel bad for the guy, that's he's depressed, but it felt like that colored the writing and the research more than I was comfortable with.
Or maybe it's just that it felt like the author said, hey, maybe I should sorta kinda look into this religion thing, oh, and if I do that, I should write a book about it. Personally, if I were going to write a book about searching for religions, I wouldn't searc...more
I kept wishing this had been written by Bill Bryson. Or someone who wasn't depressed. I mean, I feel bad for the guy, that's he's depressed, but it felt like that colored the writing and the research more than I was comfortable with.
Or maybe it's just that it felt like the author said, hey, maybe I should sorta kinda look into this religion thing, oh, and if I do that, I should write a book about it. Personally, if I were going to write a book about searching for religions, I wouldn't searc...more
Eric Weiner writes an easy-read with witty humour. The book is a travelog of his searchs around the world for a God that fits his soul, involving many interesting people and places. Sufism, Buddhism, Franciscans, Raelism, Taoism, Wicca, Shamanism and finally Kabalah are investigated and tried on for 'fit'. His being born Jewish makes his final choice of Kabalahism seem to be a homecoming to his roots but actually his 'God' requires some assembly of parts he respects from the other 'ism' he has i...more
I liked this book! Mostly because I'm in sort of the same situation as Weiner. To tell you the truth, I was curious about what he would say about Kabbalah, so I finished reading his experience of Toaism and skipped to the last chapter of Kabbalah. I was impressed, and it renewed my devotion to Kabbalah! I studied it at The Kabbalah Centre in New York (I grew up in a Christian family, and much of it didn't make any sense to me), and then after hearing from a few friends who are also a part of the...more
It has taken me awhile to read this book...much longer than I would usually devote. But looking back, I think I needed more time. Weiner introduces the reader to so many philosophies that it is almost too much to digest. Yet the reader longs to. The myriad of religions that Weiner explores is formidable. He endeavors to experience Sufism, Buddhism, Franciscans, Raelism, Taoism, Wicca, Shamanism, and Kabbalah not by merely reading about them, or talking to someone, but by traveling great distance...more
Jun 22, 2012
Aaron
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Bryan McFarland, faith questioners
Recommended to Aaron by:
Carrie
This is a book that I could've written as I've certainly asked myself similar questions. Mr. Weiner goes about searching for "his God" in a humorous, but driven, manner that encompasses a varied collection of religious pathways. I applaud his conclusion to his search, which I will not reveal here. I also applaud his ability to examine objectively which, given some of the unorthodox rituals he undertakes, certainly could have given way to brutal skewering of people's faiths. Still, I'm not sure t...more
I found this book to be interesting overall and often witty. The writer, a self-confessed "gastronomical Jew" embarks on a journey to various parts of the world to participate in the traditions of a number of other religions, including Wicca, Franciscan, and Buddhism. His purpose was to learn about these religions and see if any/all resonated with him. I did learn some things I didn't already know about a few faith traditions. The reason I give this book a "C" is that I found it too often repeti...more
I liked this book, but I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. I got a little annoyed at Eric after a while. It seemed like he was repeating insights, and at the end he was like, "Yaaay, I found pros and cons about all these religions and now I'm going to live my life using parts of each of them." Wow, how original. I usually love reading about religion (for example, I adore "The Year of Living Biblically") but this one got old for me toward the end. Too many attempts at wit that fell a l...more
I am not really a mystic -- so Weiner's choice of which religions to study is a bit odd to me. (and I would say his list includes at least one cult, even if he doesn't define it that way.)
I think to understand someone's god -- and how humans live and die with that god, you have to understand their weddings, coming of age ceremonies, and their funerals. Yet Weiner attends none of these.
People familiar with Buehrens, Church and Guengerich will recognize the theologians Weiner quotes throughout t...more
I think to understand someone's god -- and how humans live and die with that god, you have to understand their weddings, coming of age ceremonies, and their funerals. Yet Weiner attends none of these.
People familiar with Buehrens, Church and Guengerich will recognize the theologians Weiner quotes throughout t...more
Journalist Eric Weiner, a self-described Jewish "Confusionist" - one who has "absolulety no idea what" his "religious views are.", and is "not even sure if" he "has any, but is open to the unexpected and believes- no, hopes - there is more to life than meets the eye."
He travels the world and explores 6 different religious groups and shared his experiences with each one. He explores Sufism, Buddhism, Fransicsans, Raelism, Taoism, Wicca, Shamanism, and finally, Kabbalah.
He shares his experiences...more
He travels the world and explores 6 different religious groups and shared his experiences with each one. He explores Sufism, Buddhism, Fransicsans, Raelism, Taoism, Wicca, Shamanism, and finally, Kabbalah.
He shares his experiences...more
I did not enjoy this book as much as I did The Geography of Bliss. I was so excited because TGoB was the book that inspired us to travel to Thailand. The book was so exciting, despite the subtitle about the author being a grump. In this one, the author played up "the grump" a bit too much. He seemed morbidly depressed instead of mildly so. Besides that fact, there was a lot of travel, but the reader couldn't really SEE any of it. I felt like so much of the book took place in the author's mind (m...more
Eric has a scary visit to the hospital and a nurse asks him "Have you found you God yet?" This sends him on a tour of religions in search of his god. Each chapter starts with a personal ad: CWM seeks forbidden deity. Looking for a crazy love. Take me for a spin, and let's see where our hearts lead. Are you my hidden treasure? This ad starts off the chapter on Sufism. Eric makes a great effort to learn as much as he can about the history of each religion reading all the books he can find on the s...more
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FOR as long as he can remember Eric Weiner wanted to be a foreign correspondent. So he could hardly believe his good fortune when, one day in 1993, NPR dispatched him to India as the network's first full-time correspondent in that country. Weiner spent two of the best years of his life based in New Delhi, covering everything from an outbreak of bubonic plague to India's economic reforms, before mo...more
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Mar 23, 2012 05:55pm